4. To confirm the reality of this, in this first section I intend only to cite places in the Word where we find references to “that day, ” “in that day, ” or “at that time, ” where “day” and “time” mean the Lord’s advent.

In Isaiah:

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of Jehovah shall be established on the top of the mountains.... ...Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.... ...the day of Jehovah of Hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty.... In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and...gold.... (Isaiah 2:2, 11-12, 20)

In that day the Lord (Jehovih) will take away the finery.... (Isaiah 3:18)

In that day the offshoot of Jehovah shall be beautiful and glorious.... (Isaiah 4:2)

It will roar against him in that day..., and he will look down upon the land, which, behold, is darkness, distress; and the light will be darkened among the ruins. (Isaiah 5:30)

It shall come to pass in that day that Jehovah will whistle for the fly that is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt.... In that day the Lord will shave...in the crossings of the river.... ...in that day he shall vivify.... In that day every place...will become a thicket of briers and thorns. (Isaiah 7:18, 20-21, 23)

What will you do in the day of visitation..., which is coming? ...in that day...Israel...will rely on Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (Isaiah 10:3, 20)

It shall come to pass in that day that the root of Jesse, which shall stand as a banner to the people..., shall the Gentiles seek..., and His resting place shall be glorious. (Especially) in that day shall the Lord...seek back the remnant of His people.... (Isaiah 11:10-11)

You will say in that day, “I will confess You, Jehovah....” You will say in that day, “Confess Jehovah, call upon His name.” (Isaiah 12:1, 4)

...the day of Jehovah is at hand! It will come as destruction from Shaddai. Behold, the day of Jehovah is coming, cruel, and one of indignation and wrath and anger.... “...I will shake heaven, and the earth will move out of her place..., ” in the day of the anger of His wrath.... His time is near, and is coming, and (the) days will not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13, 22)

It shall come to pass in that day that the glory of Jacob will wane.... In that day a man will look to his Maker, and his eyes...to the Holy One of Israel. In that day his cities of refuge will be as the forsaken places of the forest.... (Isaiah 17:4, 7, 9)

The inhabitant of (the) island will say in that day, “(Behold,) our expectation!” (Isaiah 20:6)

In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan.... In that day there will be an altar to Jehovah in the midst...of Egypt.... In that day there will be a road from Egypt to Assyria, and...Israel will be...in the midst of the land.... (Isaiah 19:18-19, 23-24)

...a day of tumult and of a treading down and perplexity as regards the Lord Jehovih Of Hosts.... (Isaiah 22:5)

...in that day Jehovah will pass judgment on...the host of the exalted, and on...the kings of the earth.... After many days they will be visited. Then the moon will blush and the sun be ashamed. (Isaiah 24:21-23)

(Jehovah) will say in that day: “Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him to liberate us....” (Isaiah 25:9)

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city....” (Isaiah 26:1)

In that day Jehovah will visit with His sword.... In that day reply to her, “A vineyard of pure wine!” ...It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will thresh from the stream of the river to the river of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, you children of Israel. It shall come to pass also in that day that the great trumpet will be blown; and those perishing in the land of Assyria will come, and the outcasts from the land of Egypt, and they shall bow to Jehovah in the holy mount at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:1-2, 12-13)

In that day Jehovah of Hosts will become a crown of adornment and a miter.... (Isaiah 28:5)

Then the deaf in that day shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see...out of darkness. (Isaiah 29:18)

There will be...streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. And the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun..., in the day that Jehovah binds up the bruise of His people.... (Isaiah 30:25-26)

...in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and...gold.... (Isaiah 31:7)

...the day of Jehovah’s vengeance, the year of His retributions.... (Isaiah 34:8)

These two things shall come to you...in one day: The loss of children and widowhood. (Isaiah 47:9)

...My people shall know My name, (and) in that day that I am He who speaks: “Behold, it is I.” (Isaiah 52:6)

...Jehovah has anointed Me..., to proclaim the agreeable year of Jehovah, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.... (Isaiah 61:1-2)

...the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come. (Isaiah 63:4)

[2] In Jeremiah:

...in those days...they will say no more, “The ark of the covenant of Jehovah.” ...At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah.... In those days the house of Judah shall go to the house of Israel.... (Jeremiah 3:16-18)

...in that day...the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder. (Jeremiah 4:9)

...behold, the days are coming...when...the land shall turn into a wasteland. (Jeremiah 7:32, 34)

...they shall fall among those who fall in the day of their visitation.... (Jeremiah 8:12)

Behold, the days are coming...that I will visit everyone circumcised among the uncircumcised.... (Jeremiah 9:25)

In the time of their visitation they shall perish. (Jeremiah 10:15)

...there shall be no remnant for them, I will bring evil on (them) in the year of their visitation. (Jeremiah 11:23)

...behold, the days are coming...when it shall no more be said.... (Jeremiah 16:14)

I will look upon the back of their neck and not their faces in the day of their destruction. (Jeremiah 18:17)

...behold, the days are coming...when...I will turn this city into a wasteland.... (Jeremiah 19:6, 8)

Behold, the days are coming...when I will raise to David a righteous offshoot, (who) shall reign as king.... In (those) days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell secure.... Therefore, behold, the days are coming...when they shall no longer say.... ...I will bring evil on them in the year of their visitation.... At the end of days you will understand intelligence. (Jeremiah 23:5-7, 12, 20)

For behold, the days are coming...when I will turn again... Alas! For great is this day, and none is like it.... It shall come to pass in that day...that I will break (the) yoke...and burst (the) bonds. (Jeremiah 30:3, 7-8)

...there shall be a day when the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, “Arise, let us go up to Zion, to Jehovah our God.” ...Behold, the days are coming...when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.... Behold, the days are coming...when I will make a new covenant.... Behold, the days are coming...when the city shall be rebuilt for Jehovah.... (Jeremiah 31:6, 27, 31, 38)

Behold, the days are coming...when I will establish the good word.... In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a righteous offshoot.... In those days Judah will be saved.... (Jeremiah 33:14-16)

...I will bring...words against this city for evil...in that day.... But I will rescue you in that day.... (Jeremiah 39:16-17)

That day is to Jehovah of Hosts a day of revenge, vengeance He will take on His enemies.... ...the day of...destruction is coming upon them, the time of their visitation. (Jeremiah 46:10, 21)

Because of the day coming to lay waste.... (Jeremiah 47:4)

...upon it I will bring the year of...visitation.... Yet I will bring back (its) captives...at the end of days.... (Jeremiah 48:44, 47)

I will bring destruction...upon (them) at the time of their visitation.... ...her young men shall fall in (the) streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day.... ...at the end of days I will bring back (their) captives.... (Jeremiah 49:8, 26, 39)

In those days and at that time...the children of Israel and the children of Judah shall come together...and seek Jehovah their God.... In those days and at that time...the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, but there shall be none.... Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.... For your day has come, the time of your visitation. (Jeremiah 50:4, 20, 27, 31)

Such vanity, a work of errors; in the time of their visitation they shall perish. (Jeremiah 51:18)

[3] In Ezekiel:

An end has come, the end has come; the morning has come upon you.... The time has come, a day of tumult is near.... Behold, the day! Behold, it has come! The morning has gone out; the rod has blossomed, violence has sprouted.... The day draws near, the time has come...on its whole multitude.... Their silver and gold will not rescue them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah.... (Ezekiel 7:6-7, 10, 12, 19)

(They said of the prophet,) “The vision that he sees will come to pass many days from now; he prophesies for times far off.” (Ezekiel 12:27)

(They will not) stand in battle on the day (of the wrath) of Jehovah. (Ezekiel 13:5)

You, pierced through, impious, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, at the time of the final iniquity.... (Ezekiel 21:25, 29)

The city sheds blood in the midst of it, so that its time is coming.... You have caused (the) days to draw near, so that you are coming to your years. (Ezekiel 22:3-4)

...will it not be in the day when I take from them their strength...? On that day one who has been rescued will come to you for the instruction of the ears. On that day your mouth will be opened with him who has been rescued.... (Ezekiel 24:25-27)

In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to grow.... (Ezekiel 29:21)

Wail, alas the day! For...the day (of Jehovah) is near, the day of Jehovah is near. It will be a day of clouds, the time of the gentiles.... On that day messengers shall go forth from Me.... (Ezekiel 30:2-3, 9)

In the day that you go down into hell.... (Ezekiel 31:15)

I Myself will seek My flock...on the day that he is among the flock, and...I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered, on a cloudy and dark day. (Ezekiel 34:11-12)

On the day that I cleanse you of all your iniquities.... (Ezekiel 36:33)

...prophesy and say..., “On that day when My people Israel rest securely, will you not know it? ...in the latter days I will bring you into My land.... In that day, in the day that Gog comes upon the land.... In My zeal, in the fire of My indignation..., if there is not in that day a great earthquake upon the land of Israel. (Ezekiel 38:14, 16, 18-19)

Behold, it is coming..., this day of which I have spoken.... It will come to pass in that day that I will give Gog a burial place (in the land) of Israel...that the house of Israel may know that I am Jehovah their God from that day and from then on. (Ezekiel 39:8, 11, 22)

[4] In Daniel:

...God in heaven...has revealed secrets..., what will be in the latter days. (Daniel 2:28)

...the time came for the saints to establish the kingdom. (Daniel 7:22)

“Attend..., because the vision is for the time of the end....” He said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen at the end of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be....” “The vision of the evening and morning...is true; ...you must hide away the vision, because it is for many days....” (Daniel 8:17, 19, 26)

I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people at the end of days, because the vision is for days.... (Daniel 10:14)

...the intelligent shall be tested, to purge them and cleanse them..., until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Daniel 11:35)

At that time Michael shall rise up, the great prince who stands up for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of distress, such as has not been since there was a nation.... Yet at this time your people shall be rescued, everyone who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

You, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end.... But from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination laying waste occurs, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.... you will arise into your inheritance at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:4, 9, 11, 13)

[5] In Hosea:

...I will bring an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. ...in that day I will break the bow of Israel.... ...great will be the day of Jezreel! (Hosea 1:4-5, 11)

...in that day...you will call Me “My Husband”.... In that day I will make a covenant for them.... ...in that day I will listen.... (Hosea 2:16, 18, 21)

...the children of Israel shall return and seek Jehovah their God, and David their king...at the end of days. (Hosea 3:5)

...behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back.... (Joel 3:1)

Come, and let us return to Jehovah.... After two days He will revive us, and on the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. (Hosea 6:1-2)

The days of visitation have come; the days of retribution have come. (Hosea 9:7)

[6] In Joel:

Alas the day! For the day of Jehovah is at hand; and it shall come as destruction from Shaddai. (Joel 1:15)

...the day of Jehovah is coming...it is at hand, a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and haziness.... ...the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can endure it? (Joel 2:1-2, 11)

...on the menservants and on the maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.... The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and terrible day of Jehovah. (Joel 2:29, 31)

...in those days and at that time...I will gather all nations.... ...the day of Jehovah is near.... It will come to pass in that day that the mountains shall drip new wine.... (Joel 3:1-2, 14, 18)

[7] In Obadiah:

...in that day...I will destroy the wise men from Edom.... Do not rejoice over (them) in the day of their destruction..., in the day of their distress.... For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations.... (Obadiah 1:8, 12-15)

[8] In Amos:

The stout of heart...shall flee naked in that day.... (Amos 2:16)

In the day that I visit the transgressions of Israel upon him.... (Amos 3:14)

Woe to you who desire the day of Jehovah! What is the day of Jehovah to you? It will be one of darkness and not light.... Is not the day of Jehovah one of darkness and not light? Very dark, and having no brightness in it? (Amos 5:18, 20)

The songs of the temple shall wail in that day.... ...in that day...I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in daylight.... In that day the fair virgins and youths shall faint from thirst. (Amos 8:3, 9, 13)

On that day I will set up the collapsed tabernacle of David.... Behold, the days are coming...when...the mountains shall drip sweet wine.... (Amos 9:11, 13)

[9] In Micah:

In that day one shall...lament..., “We are utterly devastated!” (Micah 2:4)

...at the end of days the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains.... In that day...I will assemble the lame.... (Micah 4:1, 6)

...in that day...I will cut off your horses...and...your chariots. (Micah 5:10)

The day of your watchmen, your visitation has come.... The day has come to build your walls.... This day shall come even to you.... (Micah 7:4, 11-12)

[10] In Habakkuk:

...the vision is yet for an appointed time, and it will speak at the end.... If it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, and will not delay. (Habakkuk 2:3)

O Jehovah..., do Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known.... God will come.... (Habakkuk 3:2-3)

[11] In Zephaniah:

...the day of Jehovah is at hand.... In the day of Jehovah’s sacrifice I will visit judgment upon the princes and the king’s children.... I will visit judgment also upon everyone who leaps over the threshold, in that day.... There shall be on that day...the sound of a cry.... ...at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps.... The great day of Jehovah is near.... This day is a day of wrath, a day of distress and oppression, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of gloom and darkness, a day of clouds and fog, a day of the trumpet and its sounding.... ...in the day of Jehovah’s wrath...the whole land shall be devoured..., and He will make a speedy end of all the inhabitants of the land. (Zephaniah 1:7-10, 12, 14-16, 18)

...when the day of Jehovah’s anger has not yet come upon you! ...Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Jehovah’s anger. (Zephaniah 2:2-3)

...wait for Me...until the day of My rising up for plunder, for My judgment.... In that day you shall not be shamed of any of your deeds.... In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear....” ...at that time I will destroy your oppressors.... At that time I will bring you back..., at (that) time I will gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised.... (Zephaniah 3:8, 11, 16, 19-20)

[12] In Zechariah:

I will remove the iniquity of (the) land in one day. In that day...everyone will call to his companion, under his vine and under his fig tree. (Zechariah 3:9-10)

(Then) many nations shall cleave to Jehovah in that day.... (Zechariah 2:11)

In those days ten men...shall take hold of the sleeve of a Jewish man.... (Zechariah 8:23)

Jehovah their God will save them in that day, as the flock of His people. (Zechariah 9:16)

(My covenant) was broken on that day. (Zechariah 11:11)

...in that day that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone to all peoples.... In that day...I will strike every horse with stupor.... In that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a fiery furnace in the woodpile.... In that day Jehovah will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem.... ...in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations.... In that day a lamentation shall grow in Jerusalem.... (Zechariah 12:3-4, 6, 8-9, 11)

In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.... It shall be in that day...that I will cut off the names of the idols in the land.... ...in that day the prophets will be ashamed.... (Zechariah 13:1-2, 4)

Behold, the day of Jehovah is coming.... In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.... ...in that day there will be no light or illumination. It shall be one day which will be known to Jehovah — neither day nor night — about evening time...it will be light. ...in that day...living waters shall flow from Jerusalem.... In that day Jehovah shall be one and His name one. ...in that day there will be a great disturbance from Jehovah.... In that day HOLINESS TO JEHOVAH shall be...on the bells of the horses.... In that day there shall no longer be a Canaanite in the house of Jehovah.... (Zechariah 14:1, 4, 6-9, 13, 20-21)

[13] In Malachi:

Who may endure the day of His coming? And who will stand when He has appeared? ...So that they are Mine...on the day that I make them a special possession.... ...behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven.... Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet, before the great and dreadful day of Jehovah comes. (Malachi 3:2, 17, 4:1, 5)

[14] In Psalms:

In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundant peace.... And He shall have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. (Psalms 72:7-8)

And so on elsewhere.

3325. 'Sell me - as if today - your birthright' means that in the short term the doctrine of truth was apparently prior. This is clear from the meaning of 'selling' as claiming for oneself; from the meaning of 'as if today' as in the short term (for in the internal sense of the Word 'today' means that which is perpetual and eternal, 2838. But to avoid its meaning perpetual and eternal the expression 'as if today' is used, the expression as if indicating that it was so apparently); and from the meaning of 'birthright' as the fact that it - that is to say, the doctrine of truth, which Jacob represents, 3305 - is prior.

[2] By the expressions prior and priority of place, describing the birthright, are meant not only first in time but also first in degree; that is to say, it is a question of which one is to have dominion, good or truth? For until it has been joined to good truth is always prior; or what amounts to the same, until they have been regenerated, people governed by truth believe that truth is prior to and higher than good. That is how it appears at that time; but once truth with them has been joined to good, that is, once they have been regenerated, they see and perceive that truth is posterior and lower than good, and with them good has dominion over truth. This is what is meant by that which Isaac his father told Esau,

Behold, of the fatness of the earth will be your dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above. And by your sword you will live, and you will serve your brother; and it will be, when you have dominion, that you will break his yoke from above your neck Genesis 27:39-40.

[3] But because within the Church those who are not being regenerated outnumber those who are, and those who are not base their judgements on what is the appearance, it has therefore been disputed, even from ancient times, whether priority of place belongs to truth or to good. With those who have not been regenerated and also with those who are not completely regenerate the opinion prevails that truth is prior, for they have not yet acquired a perception of good; and as long as anybody is without a perception of good he is in the dark or ignorant regarding these matters. But because those who have been regenerated are governed by good itself, they are able to discern from resulting intelligence and wisdom what good is, and that good comes from the Lord and flows in by way of the internal man into the external, doing so constantly without the person being aware of it. They are able to perceive that it joins itself to the truths of doctrine that are in the memory, and that as a consequence good in itself is prior even though it has not appeared so beforehand. This then is why the dispute arose about which one was prior and higher than the other, a dispute which was represented by Esau and Jacob, as well as by Perez and Zerah, Judah's sons by Tamar, Genesis 38:28-30, and also after that by Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, Genesis 48:13-14, 17-20. The dispute arises because the spiritual Church is such that it has to be led to good by means of truth, and while being led to good it does not have the perception of good except insofar as this, quantitatively and qualitatively, lies concealed within the affection for truth. At that time it is indistinguishable from the delight of self-love and of love of the world which exists at the same time within that affection and is believed to be good.

[4] Good however is the firstborn, that is, good flowing from love to the Lord and from love towards the neighbour, for no other good is good except that which flows from these. This becomes clear from the fact that life is present within good but not within truth except the life received from good, and from the fact that good flows into truths and gives them life, as may be seen clearly from what has been stated and shown already in 3324 about good and truth. For this reason all in whom love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour are present are called 'the firstborn'. They were also represented in the Jewish Church by firstborn creatures - that is, when these are understood in the relative sense; for the Lord is the Firstborn, and those people are likenesses and images of Him.

[5] The Lord as regards His Divine Human is the Firstborn. This is clear in David,

He will cry to Me, You are My Father, My God, and the Rock of My Salvation; I will also make Him the Firstborn, supreme over the kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for Him for ever, and My covenant will stand firm for Him, and I will establish His seed for ever, and His throne as the days of the heavens. Psalms 89:26-29.

This refers to the Lord. And in John,

From Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the Firstborn from mortal men, and Prince of the kings of the earth. Revelation 1:5.

And to fulfil those things that had been written regarding Him and that represented Him He was also the Firstborn Son, Luke 2:7, 22-23.

[6] The Lord also calls 'the firstborn' those in whom love to Him and charity towards the neighbour are present because they are likenesses and images of Him This is clear in John,

The hundred and forty-four thousand purchased from the earth - these are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins; these are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes; these have been purchased from men as firstfruits (the firstborn) to God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are spotless before God's throne. Revelation 14:3-5.

'A hundred and forty-four', or twelve times twelve, stands for those who have the faith that is grounded in charity, 3272, 'thousands' for countless numbers or for them all, 2575, 'virgins' for the good that flows from love to the Lord and from charity towards the neighbour, 2362, 3081, and so for those with whom innocence is present, which is also the meaning of 'following the Lamb' since the Lord by virtue of His innocence is called 'the Lamb'. This is why they are called the firstfruits or the firstborn.

[7] From these quotations it is evident that the Lord as regards the Divine Human was represented in the Jewish Church by firstborn beings, as also are those with whom love to Him is present, for they abide in the Lord. But the firstborn beings mentioned in the Word have a dual representation. They represent the Lord as regards Divine celestial love and as regards Divine spiritual love. The Lord's Divine celestial love is specific to the celestial Church, or to those belonging to that Church, who are called celestial on account of their love to the Lord. The Lord's Divine spiritual love is specific to the spiritual Church, or to those belonging to that Church, who are referred to as spiritual on account of their love to the neighbour. The Lord's Divine love goes out to all, but because people receive it variously - the celestial person in one way, the spiritual in another - it is said to be specific.

[8] Concerning the firstborn beings which represented the Lord as regards Divine celestial love, and also the people who belonged specifically to the celestial Church, the following is said in Moses,

The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. You shall do the same with your oxen and your flock. Seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth you shall give it to Me. And you shall be men who are sanctified to Me. Exodus 22:29-31.

The reason why it was to stay seven days with its mother was that the seventh day meant the celestial man, 84-87, and that seven consequently means that which is holy, 395, 433, 716, 881. The reason why on the eighth day they were to be given to Jehovah was that the eighth day meant the continuation from a new beginning, that is to say, the continuation of love, 2044. In the same author,

The firstborn among beasts, which is given as the firstborn to Jehovah, no man shall consecrate it; whether an ox or of the herd, it is Jehovah's. Leviticus 27:26, 27.

In the same author,

The firstfruits of all that is in the land, which they bring to Jehovah, shall be yours (Aaron's); every clean person in your house shall eat them. All that opens the womb among all flesh which they offer to Jehovah, man and beast, shall be yours. Nevertheless you shall redeem the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of unclean beasts you shall redeem. The firstborn of an ox, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem; they are holy. Their blood you shall sprinkle over the altar and burn their fat as a fire-offering for an odour of rest to Jehovah. Numbers 18:13, 15-18.

In the same author,

Every firstborn male that is born among your herds and among your flocks you shall sanctify to Jehovah your God; you shall do no work by means of the firstborn of your oxen, and you shall not shear the firstborn of your flock. And if there is a blemish in it, lameness or blindness, any ill blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Jehovah your God. Deuteronomy 15:19-22.

[9] Because 'the firstborn [among beasts]' represented the Lord and those who are the Lord's by virtue of love to Him, the tribe of Levi was therefore taken instead of all the firstborn, the reason for this being that Levi represented the Lord as regards His love. Also, Levi means love, for Levi is a name that means to cling to and to be joined together - and 'to cling to' and 'to be joined together' in the internal sense is love. This will in the Lord's Divine mercy be dealt with later on, at Genesis 29:34. Regarding the Levites the following is said in Moses,

Jehovah spoke to Moses. saying, Behold, I Myself will take the Levites from the midst of the children of Israel, instead of every firstborn, that which opens the womb, from the children of Israel; and the Levites will be Mine. For every firstborn is Mine; on the day I struck every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified every firstborn for Myself in Israel; from man even to beast they shall be Mine. Numbers 3:11-13.

In the same author,

Jehovah said to Moses, Number every firstborn male from the children of Israel, a month old and over, and take the number of their names. And take the Levites for Me - I am Jehovah - instead of every firstborn among the children of Israel, and the beast of the Levites instead of every firstborn among the beasts of the children of Israel. Numbers 3:40-41, and following verses.

Also Numbers 8:14, 16-18. And the Levites were given to Aaron, Numbers 8:19, because Aaron represented the Lord as regards the priesthood, that is, as regards Divine love; for the priesthood represented the Lord's Divine love, see 1728, 2015 (end).

[10] Concerning the firstborn creatures however which represented the Lord as regards Divine spiritual love, and also the people who belonged specifically to the spiritual Church, the following is said in Jeremiah,

With weeping they will come, and with supplications I will lead them, I will bring them to springs of water in a straight path on which they will not stumble; and I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be My firstborn. Jeremiah 31:9.

This refers to a new spiritual Church. 'Israel' stands for spiritual good, 'Ephraim' for spiritual truth, who is called 'the firstborn' because the subject is a Church that is to be established in which the understanding - which is the holder of truth - is apparently the firstborn. Indeed Ephraim took Reuben's place and became the firstborn, Genesis 48:5, 20; 1 Chronicles 5:1. He did so because Joseph, whose sons were Ephraim and Manasseh, represented the Lord as regards Divine spiritual love. But fundamentally Israel, that is, spiritual good, is the firstborn. This is clear in Moses,

Jehovah said to Moses, You shall say to Pharaoh, Thus said Jehovah, My firstborn son is Israel, and I say to you, Send My son so that he may serve Me, and you have refused to send him; behold, I kill your son, the firstborn. Exodus 4:22-23.

Here 'Israel' in the highest sense is the Lord as regards Divine spiritual love, and in the relative sense those in whom spiritual love, that is, charity towards the neighbour, is present.

[11] In the case of the spiritual Church, in the beginning or when it is about to be established, it is the doctrine of truth that is the firstborn with the external Church and the truth taught by doctrine the firstborn with the internal Church - or what amounts to the same, the doctrine of faith is the firstborn with the external Church and faith itself with the internal Church. But once it has been set up, or is a reality among its members, it is the good flowing from charity that is the firstborn with the external Church and charity itself with the internal Church. When however the Church does not allow itself to be established, as happens when it is no longer possible for the member of the Church to be regenerated, it gradually retreats from charity and turns aside to faith. Furthermore it no longer concerns itself with life but with doctrine; and when that happens it casts itself into shadows and sinks into falsities and evils. In so doing it ceases to be a Church and brings about its own annihilation. This was represented by Cain, in that he slew Abel his brother - Cain meaning faith separated from charity, and Abel the charity which he annihilated, see 340, 342, 357, 362, and following paragraphs. Later on it was represented by Ham - and Canaan his son - in that he mocked Noah his father, 1062, 1063, 1076, 1140, 1141, 1162, 1179. After that it was represented by Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, in that he defiled his father's bed, Genesis 35:22, and at length by Pharaoh and the Egyptians, in that these afflicted the children of Israel. It is clear from the Word that all these were accursed, as the following shows:

Cain

Jehovah said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to Me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. Genesis 4:10-11.

Ham and Canaan

Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and pointed it out to his two brothers. And Noah awoke from his wine. He said, Cursed be Canaan, a slave of slaves will he be to his brothers. Genesis 9:22, 24-25.

Reuben

Reuben, my firstborn, you are my strength, and the beginning of my power, excelling in eminence, and excelling in might. Unstable as water, may you not excel, for you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it. He went up to my couch. Genesis 49:3-4.

This was why he was deprived of the birthright, 1 Chronicles 5:1. The same was represented by Pharaoh and the Egyptians, and therefore their firstborn sons and firstborn creatures were slain. This is clear from their representation as facts, 1164, 1165, 1186, for whenever anyone enters into the arcana of faith along the path of factual knowledge, he no longer believes anything, apart from that which he is able to grasp through sensory evidence and factual knowledge. In that case things which belong to the doctrine of faith, and above all those which are matters of charity, he perverts and annihilates.

[12] These are the considerations which are represented in the internal sense by the slaying of the firstborn sons and firstborn creatures of Egypt, referred to in Moses as follows,

I will pass through the land of Egypt during that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man even to beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement; I am Jehovah. And the blood will be a sign on your houses where you are; and when I see the blood I will pass by over you, and the plague will not be on you for a destroyer when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13.

'The firstborn of Egypt' is doctrinal teaching regarding faith and regarding charity, which is perverted, as has been stated, by means of facts. 'The gods of Egypt' on whom judgement would be executed are falsities. No plague would be brought by the destroyer where there was blood on houses means in the highest sense the place where the Lord as regards Divine spiritual love resides, and in the relative sense where spiritual love, that is, charity towards the neighbour, resides, see 1001.

[13] Further reference to Pharaoh and the Egyptians is made in the same book as follows,

Moses said, Thus said Jehovah, As at midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, and Pharaoh's firstborn who was to sit on his throne, even to the firstborn of the servant-girl who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of the beasts. But on all the children of Israel not a dog will move its tongue, from man even to beast. Exodus 11:4-7.

And after that,

It happened at midnight, that Jehovah struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from Pharaoh's firstborn who was to sit on his throne even to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, ¹ and all the firstborn of the beasts. Exodus 12:29.

The reason why it took place at midnight was that 'night' means the final state of the Church when there is no faith any longer because there is no charity any longer, 221, 709, 1712, 2353. In David,

He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the beginning of powers in the tents of Ham. Psalms 78:51.

In the same author,

Then Israel came to Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham. God struck all the firstborn in their land, the beginning of all their powers. Psalms 105:23, 36.

'The tents of Ham' is the name given to the worship of the Egyptians, which is based on false assumptions that result from truth separated from good, or what amounts to the same, from faith separated from charity - 'tents' meaning worship, see 414, 1102, 1566, 2145, 2152, 3312, and 'Ham' faith separated from charity, 1062, 1063, 1076, 1140, 1141, 1162, 1179.

[14] This confirms yet again that 'the slaying of the firstborn of Egypt' had no other meaning. Now because all the firstborn of Egypt had been slain, and yet so that the firstborn might represent the Lord as regards Divine spiritual love and at the same time represent those who are governed by that love, [the Israelites] were commanded to sanctify all the firstborn the instant they were leaving. These matters are stated in Moses as follows,

Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel; with man and with beast let them be Mine. You shall make over to Jehovah all that opens the womb, and every firstling of a beast, that are yours; the males shall be Jehovah's. And every firstling of an ass you shall redeem in the herd. If you do not redeem it, you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. And it shall be - when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? - that you shall say to him, By a strong hand Jehovah led us out of Egypt, from the home of slaves. And so it was, that Pharaoh hardened himself against sending us away, and Jehovah slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man even to the firstborn of the beasts. Therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that open the womb, the males, and all the firstborn of my sons I redeem. Exodus 13:1-2, 12-15; 34:19-20; Numbers 33:3-4.

From all these quotations one may now see what is meant in the spiritual sense by the birthright.

Poznámky pod čarou: